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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — As Brandin Podziemski stepped to the foul line to ice out the game, Steph Curry and Draymond Green met in the backcourt, alone, for a hug.

Moments earlier, Curry connected on a step-back 3 that put the Warriors ahead for good. It came from Curry and Green’s connection, more than a decade in the making. Curry sensed the Clippers’ defensive scheme, flashed Green a hand signal, and linked up on a vintage pass back. Curry ended up in the front row of Intuit Dome, Green with his hands to the rafters.

Steph and Draymond. Draymond and Steph. ‘Til the wheels fall off.

Curry’s 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left capped a stunning comeback and a 35-point night. It was only possible because of Green’s blanketing defense on Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.

Curry is still the greatest show in sports — even at 38. Green is still the greatest defender of his generation.

The Boston champions, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, filled in the gaps when Curry and Green needed. Golden State’s 126-121 victory over the Clippers in the 9/10 play-in game had championship DNA remnants all over it.

“For one night, we’re us, we’re champions again,” head coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “That might sound crazy to everybody out there, it’s the play-in game. I don’t care. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.”

The Warriors’ victory earned them a trip to Phoenix, where the Suns await for a Friday single elimination game. Winner gets the Thunder, loser gets to start summer vacation.

Golden State is still in the play-in tournament. That’s what happens when you win 37 games in an injury-marred season. Curry, Green, and the Warriors have won four championships over the past 12 years and been to two more Finals. They’ve played under far brighter lights than the 9/10 game.

Still, after the win over the Clippers, Kerr told the team in the locker room that this win is right up there with any of them during the golden years.

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This one felt different. After all the Warriors have been through, this year and over Curry’s 17 seasons, it was cathartic. At this stage of their journeys, any time the Warriors ascend to their former heights is extraordinary.

The thrilling win was a remix of their Game 7 victory in Houston last year.

Redemption for Klay Thompson’s sad swan song in Sacramento.

Vengeance in a storied matchup with Ty Lue teams.

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Proof that Curry and Green, who broke the game in 2014, can still break hearts.

Evidence that the fading dynasty hasn’t faded to black.

The Warriors trailed by double-digits a handful of times. The Clippers always seemed to have a counterpunch, even to Curry’s electric 16-point third quarter. Golden State committed 20 turnovers, which could have sunk the team like the bugaboo had so many times this season.

The Warriors trailed by 13 points early in the final frame, 10 minutes away from packing their bags. Then Curry re-entered and canned one of his seven 3s six seconds later.

Suddenly, a double-digit deficit didn’t look so daunting.

“You don’t like to be on the other side when he does what he does,” said Horford, a first-year Warrior. “As clutch as a player as you can find. Really embraces this moment. I know he puts that fear into opposing teams.”

Then Horford erupted for four fourth-quarter 3s, each crazier than the last. On one, he passed out of a layup and relocated to the corner like he was Curry.

And, led by Green, Golden State got stop after stop.

Green had Leonard so locked up, he had the demure Clippers star calling him a Hall of Famer postgame.

Leonard checked into the game with eight minutes left. Green only allowed him to get one shot off the rest of the way (he added a meaningless dunk when the result was essentially in hand). Leonard scored 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting, but only went 3-for-7 against Green.

Right after Curry’s go-ahead 3, Green sniffed out a side out-of-bounds play drawn up by Lue for a steal. On the very next possession, he picked Leonard’s pocket — Green’s fourth steal of the night.

One of Curry’s biggest motivations for coming back from his two-month absence from runner’s knee was because he owed it to Green, who endured the brunt of the dreary season.

They made it worth it on Thursday.

“This is what you work all year for, all summer, all offseason,” Curry said. “We’re not guaranteed a series yet, but these nights make everything worth it.”

The Warriors certainly heard the outside noise about how it might have been wise to shut Curry down to improve their chances in the lottery. Kerr banged his hands on the postgame podium just thinking about it.

“This is why Steph came back,” Kerr said. “This is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete.”

The Warriors might not have an opportunity quite like this again, and they know it. So why not make the meaningful basketball as special as it can be?